Associate Teacher, Early Childhood Center

Why this role matters:

Our preschool teachers are essential to the Bender JCC, creating a warm, engaging, and safe environment and community for our students. The Bender Early Childhood Center is one of our core programs, and our associate teachers are central to the functioning of the school. This is an exciting opportunity to work directly with our community and have a significant impact on the experience of our preschool families.

Core Responsibilities:

• Supporting the implementation of curricular standards aligned with the MD Early Learning Standards and an emergent, Reggio Emilia-inspired approach to education.
• Partnering with ECC children and families to create a sense of community and camaraderie throughout the ECC program. Communicating regularly with Bender ECC families.
• Ensuring the safety and care of the children, including consistent supervision and attending to the physical and emotional needs of the children.
• Engaging in professional development opportunities during and outside of the school day. Reflecting on successes and areas of growth as a teacher and responding to feedback.

About the Bender JCC:

The Bender Jewish Community Center in Rockville, Maryland is a premier community center at the heart of Jewish life in Montgomery County, operating a full-scale health and fitness center, pre-school, day camp and variety of education and arts programs.

We create a welcoming and inclusive environment, connecting the people of our Jewish community with each other, Israel, and the broader community. We inspire individuals of all ages and backgrounds to enhance their social, physical, intellectual and spiritual well-being through programs of excellence rooted in Jewish values.

The Bender JCC embraces and welcomes the diversity of our community and encourages everyone to seek meaning and fulfillment by participating in our rich programming inspired by our Jewish heritage. We open our doors to everyone, including people of all backgrounds, religions, abilities and sexual orientations, and interfaith couples and families.

Qualifications

You value:

• Jewish Early Childhood Education
• Inclusivity.
• Compassion.
• Collaboration.
• Innovation.

You should have:

• 4 year College Degree OR 90-hour certificate in early childhood curriculum & development or early childhood coursework* with 1 year experience working with preschool children in an approved center or equivalent work experience.
• Ability to ensure the safety and care of the children, including, but not limited to, lifting (up to 40 lbs), carrying children, and other movement associated with caring for young children.
• Ability to respond quickly and remain calm in an emergency.

* If you do not have the 90-hour certificate in early childhood curriculum & development, you must work with the Bender ECC administrative team on a professional development plan.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position with a salary between $40-44K, commensurate with experience. Benefits include paid time off, retirement, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits. You’ll also receive a full family membership to the Bender JCC, including complete access to the entire fitness facility and pools, plus staff discounts on programs and services.

Research shows that women and underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they feel that they meet 100% of the qualifications. If this role sounds interesting to you, we encourage you to apply! The Bender JCC is committed to building a diverse team that draws on the strengths of people with a variety of identities, backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

Our core values are

• Welcoming and inclusive (Hachnassat Orchim) – We open our doors to everyone and strive to create an inclusive and accommodating environment for people of different backgrounds, abilities and means.
• Respect (Kavod) – We seek to create a town square where our community can be exposed to diverse viewpoints and grapple with difficult issues in a respectful and civil manner.
• Jewish Peoplehood (Klal Yisrael) – We create connections to the people, history, culture, and land of Israel and with the Jewish people as a whole, welcoming all Jewish traditions and backgrounds.
• Community (Kehilla) – We facilitate relationship building and a sense of belonging to create communities across all stages of life.
• Working together (B’yachad) – We partner and collaborate with Jewish and secular organizations to build a stronger community.
• Wellness (Shmirat HaNefesh v’HaGuf) – We promote the well-being and fitness of every person.
• Spirit (Ruach) – We infuse spirit and fun into our activities and programs.